Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma is upbeat about his side’s chances of recording a win over FC Ifeanyiubah in their second game of the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super 4 tournament in Enugu.

United lost 0-2 to NPFL champions, Enugu Rangers in their opening game on Wednesday with Chisom Egbuchulam scoring twice at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

Eguma says he has taken stock after the defeat to the Flying Antelopes and is tipping his charges to come up with a positive performance against the Anambra Warriors on Friday.

“The game against (FCIU) is a big game just as all the games in this Super 4 are all big matches.

“We are going to prepare well. We are going to strategize, work and see that we come out better against FCIU,” Eguma told Rivers United's media.

The defeat to Rangers represented United’s first reverse in 11 pre-season matches.

Eguma said the loss denotes positive connotations in the long term as he muses over optimum tactics and choice of personnel.

The experienced gaffer reasoned that ‘it is better to lose matches and make mistakes now but play well and win’ when competitive matches come round.

“We try to win every game we play but the truth is that we are here in Enugu to continue our preparations for the new season.

“We have so many new players and we are still trying to integrate everyone into our system.

“It is better to lose matches and make mistakes now but play well and win in the League, Federation Cup and Caf Champions League,” he opined.

Rivers United finished in second place in last season’s NPFL and reached the last eight of the 2016 Federation Cup.

They, alongside Enugu Rangers will represent Nigeria in Africa’s premier club competition – the Caf Champions League – in 2017.

About NPFL

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is the elite League of Nigeria's Football Federation, embracing the 20 most competitive club sides in the country. Its existence dates back to 1990 when a law came into effect to introduce professional football in the country. Read More